Queer & Trans Leadership And The Fight For LGBTQ Migrant Rights

Building on the legacy of Queer and Trans elders and pioneers, LGBTQ immigrant and refugee leaders continue to lead the fight for societal transformation. For years, these leaders have advocated for increased funding to support LGBTQ immigrant communities, particularly to address lack of access to medical care and asylum and detention issues (including sexual assault). A 2017 Congressional inquiry found that LGBTQ immigrants are 97 times more likely to be sexually victimized than non-LGBTQ people while in ICE custody. However, LGTBQ immigrant issues continue to receive less funding when compared to overall dollar amounts invested in LGBTQ communities.

According to the 2019-2020 resource tracking report on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer grantmaking, out of the $201 million that was invested in LGTBQ communities by U.S. foundations in 2020, only 4% went to support for LGTBQ immigrants and refugees. But – as anti-Trans policies continue to pop up across the country in the form of bathroom bills that deny Transgender individuals access to bathrooms that align with their gender identity, denial of gender-affirming services to Trans youth, and the ongoing detention of transgender individuals at the border – the need for funding is more important than ever. In this session, we will hear from LGBTQ leaders as they delve into key issues facing LGTBQ immigrants and share updates about ongoing efforts at the local and national levels to transform and shift power to their communities.

Speakers

• Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Executive Director, Hope CommUnity Center
• Oluchi Omega, Co-Director, Black LGTBQ Migrant Project (BLMP)
• Sadia Agostini-Bostic, President, Funders For LGBTQ Issues

Moderator

• Judy Yu, Senior Program Officer, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund